{DESIGN BY LUSHIA ANSON}
e c n e r e f n o c s ’ r o s n s r e e n v e o n G e r a w a s d a e r sp BY AMIELA CANIN
acanin@wsspaper.com
“Protect kids. Stop bullies.” This is the motto of Iowa Safe Schools, an organization devoted to helping LGBT students feel comfortable in their learning environments. Iowa Safe Schools held its eighth annual Governor’s Conference, an event unique to the state of Iowa, on April 3. More than 800 people attended the conference, a record number and a vast increase from its original attendance in 2006. Students and teachers attended sessions on subjects ranging from homosexuality in the Bible to gender stereotypes in popular music. The keynote speakers were JD Ordonez of Real World Brooklyn, Isis King of America’s Next Top Model, Ruthie Alcaide of Real World Hawaii, activist Ryan Sallans and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of India, the world’s first openly gay royal. “I was really impressed by the diversity of the speakers,” said Lauren Logsdon ’13. Logsdon said that she also appreciated the variety of topics covered. “I was [happy about] the inclusion of so many transgender issues,” she said. “That was something that was addressed in past conferences but it was never one of the first big things. It was really cool to see that we’re moving on to a point where we’re starting to address ‘sub-issues.’”
Dan Kauble ’13 added, “it was really awesome being around so many people who care about LGBTQ rights.” Junior Kate Thorne was also optimistic, especially about LGBT relations at West. “I feel like West High is a bit of a haven for LGBT youth,” she said. “Although things definitely aren’t perfect, West’s community is much more accepting of gay people than most of the rest of Iowa, and this is usually pretty apparent at the conferences.” West High’s inclusiveness, Thorne said, “[is] partially thanks to the teachers and administrators, partially because of our students, and partially just due to the nature of Iowa City.” “It was really nice to see that people who are trying to become teachers know that this is an issue and they want to be informed about it. That’s really cool for the generations who are going to have these people as teachers,” Logsdon added. However, Thorne believes there is still work to be done. “It’s very important that we provide resources and a place to go for everyone, gay or straight, who needs it,” she said. English teacher Kerri Barnhouse added that the most important thing “is just to continue the discussion, [because] the more people tell their stories, the more comfortable everyone becomes.”
TOP: Students gather after a day at the conference. TOP LEFT: Barnhouse discusses which sessions to attend. MIDDLE LEFT: His Royal Highness Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of India, a keynote speaker. BOTTOM LEFT: Students attend a session on the medical aspects of gender transitioning PHOTO BY//LEELA SATHYAPUTRI
8 NEWS APRIL 2013 {“UNDER A WEEPING WILLOW IN INDIANA, [WHERE]I SPENT MANY DAYS READING AND GROWING.”-BRITTANY TODD ’13